The Candlestick Procession - Sassari


Today in Sardinia the most popular festival is unquestionably the Festha manna
(the Grand Festival) which takes place in Sassari.

It is an important event for the local people and is greeted enthusiastically every year. The festival is held on 14th August with the faradda di li candareri (the descent of the candlesticks) and it is an ancient tradition which renews a vow made by the local people in 1560 to save the town from the plague. People from all over the Sassari district, of all ages and social classes, take part in the festival, as well as thousands of tourists.

Every year on the afternoon of 14th August, the eight neighbourhoods which make up the city of Sassari perform the faradda (the descent). They start from the historical town centre and walk through the city to the church of S. Maria di Betlem, bearing columns of wood 3 metres high, with a diameter of 40 cm.

Each column rests on a pedestal base with bars on all four sides, so the whole unit can be raised. The column is decorated with the particular colours of the 'gremio', or neighbourhood, and bears images of the Patron Saint.